ww2dbaseNamed after WW1-era United States Marine Second Lieutenant Ralph Talbot, the destroyer was sponsored by Mrs. Mary Talbot, Ralph's mother in 1936 and commissioned to Lieutenant Commander H. R. Thuber in 1937. Destroyer Ralph Talbot was a part of the Destroyers, Battle Force of the United States Navy and operated off the west coast of the United States. In Apr 1941, she entered Mare Island Navy Yard in California, United States, and served the remainder of her pre-war career at Pearl Harbor.

ww2dbaseAt the date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Dec 1941, Ralph Talbot was moored there. Her anti-aircraft guns were firing at the Japanese aircraft within minutes of the start of the attack, and by 0900 that morning she had downed one aircraft. After the attack, she patrolled for Japanese aircraft. On 14 Dec, she sortied with Task Force 14 as escort for the Task Force's carriers. In Jan and Feb 1942, with Task Force 8, she supported carriers as they launched their aircraft against Japanese positions in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands; in Mar, she performed a similar role during attacks on Wake and Marcus Islands. On 9 Mar 1942, she returned to Pearl Harbor. Between Mar and May 1942, she performed convoy duties between Pearl Harbor and the west coast of the United States. After the Battle of Midway, she escorted auxiliary vessels to Midway area to replenish ships that participated in the battle, then escorted Task Force 16 to Pearl Harbor. On 14 Jun, she sailed for Australia and New Zealand.

ww2dbaseOn 22 Jul, Ralph Talbot sailed for the Solomon Islands. On 7 Aug, she arrived off Guadalcanal in support of Task Group 62.6 during the landings. Beginning on 8 Aug, she patrolled north of Savo Island. At 0145 on 9 Aug, she received word of three Japanese ships; soon afterwards, she observed gunfire to the southwest, which was the start of the Battle of Savo Island. As she approached the battle, she was shelled by a friendly destroyer at about 0215. A few minutes later, a Japanese cruiser lit Ralph Talbot brightly with spotlight and fired at her. A shell landed at the chart house, destroying radar equipment and fire control circuits. Three more shells came down in close succession, hitting the wardroom, the starboard quarter, and the underside of gun number 4. Eleven members of her crew were killed, including the ship's doctor and the chief pharmacist's mate. At 0221, Ralph Talbot ceased firing after the Japanese fleet left in fear of an American air attack after dawn, but the battle continued for her as the damage control team fought the intense fire that enveloped the bridge. Meanwhile, the ship listed heavily to starboard. At 0230, all radio communication to and from the vessel stopped. By 0330, the fire was contained and the flooding was stopped. Soon after 0700, communication was re-established, and by 1210 enough temporary repairs were done for her to get underway. She arrived at Mare Island Navy Yard on 11 Sep 1942 to receive permanent repairs.

ww2dbaseOn 11 Nov 1942, Ralph Talbot steamed out of Mare Island Navy Yard for Hawaii. On 16 Dec, she departed for Australia. She remained in Brisbane for training and convoy duties between 2 Jan and 10 May 1943. Between 13 May and mid-Jun, she performed training and convoy duties out of NoumČa, New Caledonia. On 30 Jun, she covered the landings on Rendova Island, New Georgia, Solomon Islands, rescuing 300 survivors of APA McCawley on that day. On 5 Jul, she bombarded Rice Anchorage in New Georgia with her 5-inch guns, following by landing men of the 148th Infantry there. On 9 and 11 Jul, she bombarded Munda in southwestern New Georgia. During the night of 12 to 13 Jul 1943, she participated in the Battle of Kolombangara; at the end of that action, her torpedoes scuttled destroyer Gwin. From Aug through Oct, she remained in the Solomon Islands area, performing patrol and escort duties. On 27 Oct, she left for Australia. On 3 Nov, she arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea, where she resumed patrol and escort duties. During the night of 29 Nov, with Task Force 74, she bombarded Japanese positions on New Britain. In mid-Dec, she covered the landings on Kiriwina Island, Trobriand Islands, off New Guinea. In late-Dec, she covered the landings on Cape Gloucestor, New Britain. On 1 Jan 1944, she sailed with Task Force 76 and conducted pre-landing bombardment of Saidor, New Guinea. She left the New Guinea area in early Feb 1943 for overhaul in the United States.

ww2dbaseAfter a brief stay at Pearl Harbor in May 1944, Ralph Talbot returned to the South Pacific. She escorted a convoy between Eniwetok, Marshall Islands to Saipan, Mariana Islands, arriving at Garapan Harbor on 5 Jul, then provided gunfire support for ground troops. After evacuating casualties, she provided gunfire support at Tinian on 27 Jul. She escorted ships through most of Aug 1944, then joined Task Force 38.4 in support of the attack against the Volcano and Bonin Islands between 31 Aug and 2 Sep, Yap on 7 and 8 Sep, and the Palau Islands between 10 and 19 Sep. In Oct, she patrolled for Japanese shipping in the general area enclosed by Okinawa, Taiwan, and Luzon of the Philippine Islands. On 20 Oct, she supported Leyte landings in the Philippine Islands. On 25 Oct, she screened carriers and battleships during the Battle off Cape EngaŅo. After patrolling the Leyte Gulf area between 16 and 27 Nov, she escorted escort carriers into the Sulu Sea to support the Mindoro landings and then the Luzon landings between 1 and 17 Jan 1945. She screened transports bound for Iwo Jima in Feb 1945, and remained in the area on patrol until 27 Feb. She replenished at Ulithi between 5 Mar and 20 Apr.

ww2dbaseOn 26 Apr, Ralph Talbot arrived at Okinawa, where the battle had already been waging for almost a month. As a part of Task Group 51.5, she performed anti-aircraft screen duties. At 2200 on 27 Apr, she was struck on the starboard side aft by a special attack fighter, while a second missed, splashing into the sea off the port quarter. She sailed to Kerama Retto nearby for temporary repairs, returning to service on 20 May. She performed convoy duties between the Mariana Islands and the Ryuku Islands for the remainder of the Pacific War. In Aug, she rescued 24 survivors of the cruiser Indianapolis.

ww2dbaseOn 1 Sep 1945, Ralph Talbot escorted heavy cruiser Portland from Guam to Truk and stood by the next day during the Truk surrender ceremony aboard Portland. She operated off southern Japan in Oct and returned to the United States on 29 Oct. She was used as a target ship during the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in Jul and Aug 1946. Contaminated with radiation, she was sunk off Kwajalein in Mar 1948.

ww2dbaseSource: United States Navy Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

My Uncle was killed on the USS Ralph Talbot. His name was Charles Marino. Does anyone have any pictures of him or any other information.

2. Cheryl Marino says:30 Aug 2012 12:58:31 PM

Charles Marino was 1c, he was killed on the USS Ralph Talbot in WWII, as my brother asked, if anyone has any information on our uncle we would greatly appreciate it

3. Johan George Erhard Aupperlee says:27 May 2013 01:58:59 PM

A very nice site, I have been reading that there where 2 sailors with the name Aupperlee John and William on this ship during the war , my Question is,, are they brothers ? and do they or their ancestors come from The Netherlands.thanks greetings from Holland.

4. Anonymous says:23 Jun 2013 03:13:10 PM

John and Bill Auperlee were a song and dance duo before and during the war, performing on the USS Arizona 1 week before Dec 7. John passed away and I am not sure about Bill, who retired and has been reunion contact, in North Hollywood, CA. His phone is listed. My grandfather was a close friend of both - George Carl McCarter.

5. Karen Watkins says:28 Aug 2013 02:18:21 PM

My Daddy was a F2 on the Talbot .His name is Irving M. Davies and he was in the boiler room of the ship when it was hit...he survived the battle,but told us very little of his experience...Does anyone remember this or my Daddy?? Any info would be gratefully appreciated. Thank You All for your service...

6. Becky Beaman says:21 Sep 2013 02:26:19 PM

I am at a Ralph Talbot reunion as I write this. John and Bill Aupperlee were indeed brothers -- twin brothers. Both have now passed away. I mentioned Charles Marino, and the 2 crew members here think there is some info in the Ralph Talbot book we have. RT took casualities when a kamikaze hit, and in a couple of other actions. Do you know when he died?

7. Anonymous says:31 Dec 2013 10:37:24 PM

My uncle was also one of those wounded by the kamikaze attack on April 27, 1945.

8. Anthony Marino says:25 May 2015 06:08:05 AM

Today is Memorial day and I am thinking of my Uncle Charlie today. I have the USS Ralph Talbot book and it tells the story of the kamikaze hit and the men who died, one being my Uncle. God Bless him and all of the men who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this beautiful country.

9. Rich Swanson says:28 Jul 2015 12:03:50 PM

My uncle Gordon Burke was on the Rat-Trap as she was affectionately called. I remember all his stories from the time in the Solomon Islands to the kamikaze hit. I love those stories and I miss my Uncle.

10. Anonymous says:12 Aug 2015 09:42:43 AM

Bill Aupperlee was my dad. I grew up listening to endless war stories. It was great. My dad and uncle Jack were stationed in the engine room. What a great generation, I was fortunate to be given dozens of video tapes and cassettes of many of there reunions. If anyone is interested I'm sure copies can be made.
Jacki Aupperlee Mitchell

11. Michael Spencer says:30 Jul 2017 08:12:52 PM

My grandfather, Richard Junior Spencer, served on this ship, and I'm told that his father, Richard Dale Spencer, also served on it before him. I'd like to find more info about his father if possible. Many comments on this page have mentioned the kamikaze attack. My grandmother told me that her husband held bitter contempt for the Japanese the rest of his life after being tasked to fish the bodies of his fallen comrades from the sea after that attack.

12. Frank Gray says:24 Jun 2018 03:42:32 PM

I just found out today that my wife's uncle, SA or S2C Robert "Dee" Florentine Bludworth from Mississippi was one of the 12 men killed at Savo Island. We thought he was on the USS Quincy (CA-39) so any help or info if he was on the DD-390 would be greatly appreciated. Help an old retired Senior Chief because we would eventually like to get him a marker for the family plot.

13. Robert Ward says:23 Oct 2018 12:20:55 PM

My dad,Glenn Eastman Ward, was on the Talbot,7 Dec 1941.He passed many years ago,but told me they had steam up,and were leaving that Sun. morning.What a story !

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